Dear Family,It is definitely not showing any signs of spring right now in Olean. We havehad snow and more snow. Just when you think it will stop and when it melts awayit comes right back.I will send more photos, but I have to get in the habit of taking picturesfirst! I am going to take some of the apartment and maybe some with members andinvestigators as well...(maybe even a few with Elder Skifton in them).I will definitely enjoy the time that I have left with Elder Skifton. He is awonderful companion, and as I have got to know him, he is a wonderful person. He is going through the transition from being a kid to becoming an adult, and ithas been very stressed at times, but he never complains or puts on a long facefor anyone to see, and stands out as a good example, sharing the gospel withthose he can.Time has been going fast, and every P-Day I marvel at how a whole week haspassed. It doesn't seem like that much time has gone by since I started, but ithas been over three months!We have been visiting a lot of members, recent converts and less-actives, and Ilove it! We do need to work on getting more referrals, but I am getting to knowa lot of wonderful people in the Olean/Cuba/Portville/Coudersport/PortAllegany/Hinsdale and Wherever Else area!
We had a Zone Conference on Monday in Franklin, PA, and luckily for us and ourmileage, Sister Habovstack gave us a ride (it's 2 hours away!) I love ZoneConferences because I always get such a spiritual boost from them. I know thatPresident Francis is an inspired leader, called over this mission, and I knowthat he does receive revelation for us.
I'm sorry, but I didn't get your e-mail until today...I was beginning to wonderif you forgot my e-mail, or if myldsmail was messed up. Don't feel bad though,because I did get e-mail from other people, and I did get to read yours, it wasjust a little delayed.This week I have some letters written that I am going to send out, which shouldcome next week, so I hope they arrive safely.Anyway, we are visiting a less-active member named Norman Stanton a few times aweek, and he loves the Book of Mormon! Since we have given him it a few monthsago, he is on his third time reading it! He knows all of the stories very welland definitely comprehends what he reads. He is a really wonderful person andhas had a lot of neat spiritual experiences. The sad part is that he lives inapartments where everyone hates us and the church, and he is being persecutedfor his beliefs. The good news is that he has a strong testimony, and the evenbetter news is that a member of the church just moved in the room across thehall from him, so he now has some more support.
I hope you are all doing well over in your little corner of the USA, I amdoing well in my corner! I am writing this letter from Erie, PA in the PublicLibrary. We are in Erie this P-Day because we have to get an emissions check inPA. The car is registered in Pittsburgh, and the closest dealership to Oleanthat can do the check is in Erie, so here we are. Not my idea of how to use aP-Day, but it is cool to see the city of Erie.My companion got his toe cut off...JUST KIDDING! He had an ingrown toenail andhad it removed yesterday at the local podiatrist, Richard L. Scott. Interestingly familiar name, huh? Too bad it is one letter off. Talk about anice way to approach someone about the gospel!I hope you and Mitch both get better soon, (unless you are both already better)and I hope no one else gets it from you (not likely). I hope you had a goodMardi Gras(on the 28th of Feb). I don't know what else to write, and I'vealready talked your ear off, so I guess I will wrap it up.I hope you all have a merry March!
Love,Elder Andrew J Ostler